Are you going to make your home more secure? This is a good thing because you can never be too cautious. You have to use all the information you can find. This article is a great start.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. Have a locksmith install a brand new lock. Also, if you lose your keys, change the locks.

Be sure your home appears to always be occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. This will make it look like someone is home. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. It is best to do a reference check on them. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.

Spare Key

Don’t be afraid to know the people who live near you. Talk to your neighbors. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.

Place the spare key that you make on your dog. This will come in handy if your dog is outdoors most of the time or if it can go outside through a pet door. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.

Change all of your locks when you move in. You have no way of knowing how many folks might have keys to your house. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.

Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from outside the home. A big front window gives you a good view; however, it also gives burglars a good view of the interior of your house. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

Hide your security system’s wiring. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. Never make things easy for them. Ask the person installing it to bury the wires or hide them inside the walls. You’ll be safer.

Make sure to clear your yard of brush and dead wood in the summertime. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Be sure all sorts of flammable items are kept under control around your home.

When moving into a house, ensure that each lock has been replaced. Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.

If you own a garage, be sure to use it to place your car, as opposed to using it as a storage. If your car is in your garage there is less of a chance to vandalize or steal it. If you keep your car in the garage instead of in the driveway, it is harder for thieves to know whether you are at home or not.

The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. You can even buy and install the locks yourself so you know that you are the only one with a key.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.

Before you give a security company employee access to your home, make sure they’re in uniform and that they present acceptable identification. Intruders can easy pass themselves off as an employee of a security company just to get inside your house. Don’t allow this to happen, as it is a direct threat to your house and its contents. Proceed with caution.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

Motion sensing lights are a good way to increase home security. During the night hours, these lights help light up the outside of your home, which makes them an excellent addition to your home security strategies. In addition, they are very affordable. By carefully placing them around the outside of your property, you create a perimeter that cannot be breached.

Whenever seeking out home-security companies, the Internet can be a valuable resource, so utilize it. Check out reviews you find on the web. After narrowing down your top five choices, you can then take the next step by contacting each one.

When hiring a home security company, make sure to read the fine print on the contract you are signing. There may be hidden costs to doing business with them, including early termination fees and surprising equipment costs. These are costs you’ll want to avoid.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. Windows should be free from obstructions like trees, shrubs and fencing. If windows and doors can be easily seen from all areas, then burglars cannot hide as well, which will hinder their plans. Keep this in mind as you design.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. Most intruders avoid anything that could reveal their identity. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. Keep your home lit up all night long.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. Dark houses invite burglars who prefer to operate under cover of darkness. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

Break down the boxes from your new TV or computer rather than leaving them on the side of the road. Burglars will see these boxes and recognize that there are new valubles in your house. Cut the box up and hide the writing when you put it out.

Make sure you have weighed the costs and risks when you are considering your security needs. Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home. In some cases the security system is your best investment, in others you well-served with an alert dog or reinforced locking systems. Know the risks so that you can make a better decision.

If you must hide a key, hide it somewhere unusual. An easily moved object close to the door is the first place a burglar will look. Many people will look under your doormat. It’s better to ask a trusted friend or neighbor to hold your extra key. If none of these options are possible, try to think of an unusual hiding place.

Do not use spring latch locks on your doors. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. An intruder has only to press the card into the doorjamb between latch and the door and the lock will pop open. If your doors have locks that are spring latch, add a deadbolt for extra security.

No home is immune from threats. Luckily, there are measures that can be taken to keep your home as safe as possible. The piece you just read should have taught you some things. Use these for the optimum protection of your home.

Do not store your car registration in your glove box. Anyone with access to your car can find out where you live, so it is not a smart thing to do. Keep them with you or hide them elsewhere. They must still be easily accessible should you be stopped by police.